The Proverbs Series: Don't Depend On Your Wisdom
Walking the Wise Path to the Good Life
Dear #DailyFollower,
Introduction
Happy Sunday! It’s the last Sunday in February. How quickly four Sundays have passed! This year is running by quickly. I hope you’ve had a great time so far.
I also hope you found time to worship with God’s people today and that you’ve had a restful weekend.
If, for any reason, it hasn’t been as relaxing as you hoped for, I pray that the remaining 10+ hours before you have to have to get into the business of the new week will bring a dimension of rest that energises you for all the demands of the new week, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
We continue on our journey through Proverbs with a vital recommendation from Solomon.
Before getting into it, I welcome everyone reading their first #DailyFollower newsletter. Please check out this post on the purpose of these letters here and all of the letters from the Proverbs Series here - these letters share profound wisdom that sets us on paths that take us to the good life.
Now, let’s dive in.
The Text
Proverbs 3:7, EXB
7 Don’t ·depend on your own wisdom [be wise in your own eyes]. ·Respect [Fear; Hold in awe] the Lord and ·refuse to do wrong [turn away from evil].
Proverbs 3:7, KJV
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
Some Thoughts
We know only so much, and our wisdom is utterly limited. Depending on our wisdom is a risk because we are not all-knowing, and what we don’t know will always limit our capacity to access helpful information for our advancement.
Solomon recommends an alternative: We should first “Respect [Fear; hold in awe] the Lord.“Respecting the Lord, i.e., holding him in awe, is wisdom. A practical way to do that is to listen to Him (pay attention to know Him) and obey what He says (do everything He commands). This first part of Solomon’s recommendation touches on the spiritual action we need to take to access and exercise wisdom.
Second, Solomon says it is wise to refuse to do wrong and turn away from evil. This second part of Solomon’s recommendation highlights the natural action we must take to access and exercise wisdom. All our human interactions depend on relationships, and we must pay attention to doing right by the people in our lives—when we do, we turn away from evil.
One Question To Ponder
Do I respect God (fear and hold Him in awe) and turn away from evil?
Solomon’s recommendations are simple, but if we don’t practice regular self-reflection and self-assessment, we will fail to take the wise actions that ensure we access and exercise spiritual and natural wisdom.
Conclusion
There are loads of wise sayings in our world today.
We also have many well-meaning practices advertised as things we can all engage in to access and exercise wisdom.
Yet, most of this only advances “our own wisdom“.
Our wisdom coach, one of the wisest men in history, says we shouldn’t put too much on ‘our own wisdom‘. He says we should respect God (fear and hold Him in awe) and turn away from evil.
It is simple enough, but it can be challenging to practice these two recommendations.
However, we must do our best to consistently engage in the spiritual and natural practices that guarantee our access to wisdom and improve our capacity to exercise wisdom.
Yours faithfully,
John, a #DailyFollower.